[Hidden-tech] Re: Hidden-discuss Digest, Vol 40, Issue 32

[John Broglio]

Will,

I experimented putting the first clip through Algorithmix's Easy Tools.  
To clean out the crowd noise I used the Easy DeNoiser, Tape 2 setting at 
"31".  (Algorithmix also makes the more sophisticated SoundLaundry).  I 
don't know if there is a Mac version, but I am sure there are plenty of 
similar cleaning tools.  With the crowd/room "hiss" taken back a peg, 
the clip sounds much better:  it cleans up the sound of the foot rhythm 
and brings the rest of the band forward, which may be as good as it gets.

The foot percussion is spread all over the frequency map.  There is a 
"boom" part of it in the low frequency range and a "tap" part in the 
middle and high frequency.  I did not analyze it closely, but playing 
with an equalizer gave me that info.  I don't think you can cut back on 
the foot tap at any frequency without deadening the whole performance.  
But I found that cleaning up the crowd "hiss" made the balance much 
better and the performance as a whole quite enjoyable. 

I recommend a sound-cleaning-specific program on the order of 
EasyTools.  For cleaning sound, I have found the effects processors in 
Audacity and SoundForge to be worthless for a non-sound-engineer like 
myself.

Keep up the good work.  We have incredible local bands playing at 
contradances.  I would love to hear them live on the radio.

John Broglio

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> Today's Topics:
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>    1. Requesting Audio Editing tips (Will Loving)
>    2. Re: Requesting Audio Editing tips (Tom Adams)
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>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:16:11 -0500
> From: Will Loving <will at dedicationtechnologies.com>
> Subject: [Hidden-tech] Requesting Audio Editing tips
> To: <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
> Message-ID: <C3DF6DDB.28EB5%will at dedicationtechnologies.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> I¹m looking for a quick tip or two from anyone who might have experience
> with audio editing on improving some live recordings I¹ve been making
> recently at contra dances (with the permission of the musicians, of course).
> I¹m using a Zoom H4 digital recorder  (
> http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1901 ) which does
> an excellent job, but my lack of experience with post-production is becoming
> clear as I try to figure out how to improve the overall recording and deal
> with some issues particular to the kind of music I¹m recording.
>
> I¹ve posted two short clips (uncompressed WAV) that illustrate what I¹m
> trying to work with, the wonderful band Nightingale, and particularly Keith
> Murphy¹s Québéquois style foot percussion.
>
> http://dedicationtechnologies.com/loving/music/PercussionClip1.wav
> http://dedicationtechnologies.com/loving/music/PercussionClip2.wav
>
> The foot percussion is too loud and creates spikes throughout the waveform.
> What I¹m hoping for is someone to say something like ³try setting the EQ to
> ....² or ³use a compressor (or limiter) set to (approx)...² Any suggestions
> on improving overall quality would also be welcome. At some point I¹d love
> to sit down with someone who really knows this kind of editing and get a
> more solid foundation, but for now I have to learn it in bits and pieces due
> to time constraints.
>
> I¹m on a Mac, and my available tools are Soundtrack 1.5 which I¹m somewhat
> familiar with, Audacity which I¹m a little familiar with but find pretty
> clunky compared to Soundtrack, and possibly an old copy of Amadeus. I also
> have the latest GarageBand but have never used it for Audio editing. My
> preference would be to continue with Soundtrack, but I¹m open to trying
> something else (probably GarageBand). I¹m guessing that the filter settings
> will be similar regardless of the app...
>
> Many thanks in advance.
>
> Will
>
> Will Loving, President
> Dedication Technologies, Inc.
>
>
>
>